Description

A festive, alcohol-free holiday drink featuring pear nectar, fresh ginger, and warm spices. It is easy to make, looks fancy, and pairs perfectly with rich holiday meals.

Ingredients

Scale

4 cups (960ml) 100% pear nectar
2 inches fresh ginger, peeled and minced (about 2 tablespoons)
3 whole star anise pods
1 large cinnamon stick
4–5 whole cloves
Zest of 1 large orange
2 cups (480ml) ginger ale or sparkling water
Ice cubes
Optional garnishes: thinly sliced pear, sprig of rosemary, or cinnamon stick

Instructions

Peel and finely mince the fresh ginger. Zest the orange, avoiding the white pith.
Pour the pear nectar into a large pitcher.
Add the minced ginger, star anise, cinnamon stick, cloves, and orange zest to the pitcher. Stir gently to combine.
Let the mixture steep at room temperature for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours in the fridge for stronger flavor.
Place a fine-mesh strainer over a clean bowl or serving jug. Pour the spiced pear nectar through the strainer to remove all solids. Press gently on the spices to extract flavor, then discard solids.
Refrigerate the strained base until cold, about 30 minutes.
To serve, fill glasses with ice. Pour the spiced pear nectar over the ice, leaving room at the top.
Top with ginger ale or sparkling water and stir gently.
Garnish with a thin slice of pear, a sprig of rosemary, or a cinnamon stick. Serve immediately.

Notes

The base mix can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in the fridge. Do not add ginger ale until serving to maintain fizz. For a warmer version, gently heat the base on the stove without boiling and skip the ice and soda. Ensure you use fresh ginger, not ground, for the best flavor.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Beverage
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 glass
Calories: 120
Sugar: 26
Sodium: 10
Carbohydrates: 28

Keywords: mocktail, holiday drinks, fall recipes, pear ginger, non-alcoholic, party drinks, easy recipes, seasonal drinks